My Libertine (Trio Book 2) (4 page)

“Hey, Dove.” That name again, yep that's him. I hear a door shut and footsteps come up behind me. His boots making a distinct noise as he walks. “Here is your phone.” I take a second to calm my nerves before I turn around, it really doesn't help, he still looks amazing. Little less cowboy today. More like he looked when I first met him. Tee shirt and jeans.

“Thank you for bringing it,” I tell him taking and putting it in my purse. “Thank you.” Crap I just repeated myself didn't I? He just smiles. “No girl hanging on your arm today?” couldn't help myself.

“Nope none today, I'm moving on to the next town, probably find one there.” Ouch, I really didn't need to hear that.

“I tried calling my phone last night, someone must have accidentally answered it, you sure sounded like you were having fun with Red.” He turns slightly red almost like he is embarrassed.

“Oh shit.” Is all he can say.

“You call everyone Dove?” he looks stunned for a moment. Almost like he can't figure out what I am talking about then it must register with him what I am asking.

“Just you Dove.” He pauses and for a second I think he is going to say something else but he doesn't. “Well, I had better hit the road got to be in Oregon tomorrow. Nice seeing you again Shana.” He goes back to his black pickup hops in then roars off, once again leaving black smoke in his wake. Just me? So weird.

I get to my car and grab my phone assessing it. For what, I don't know. Opening it up I don't see anything different until I get to my contacts. I see the name Row at the bottom of my list, shit he added himself? I click on it to see if added anything else, sure enough, there is a picture of him, standing in front of what looks like a hotel mirror wearing nothing but a towel, oh and his cowboy hat. I do believe my panties have just gone up in smoke. His skin is still damp from the shower he presumably took before he took the picture. Abs, Jesus the abs. I'm so engrossed in the picture that when my text alert goes off it scares me and I drop my phone. Damn it. I grab it again only to see his picture pop up again, he is texting me.

Row
: you find my pic yet?

Row
: I will take your silence as a yes

Shana
: yes I did thank you for the spank bank material

Row
: lol you are very welcome take care Dove

I look at the picture one more time, spank bank indeed.

I feel complete again my baby is back in my arms and my boobs are being drained by something other than that damn pump. The girls are out in the living room while I'm nursing Karter, when he gets done he is fast asleep as always and I lay him down for one of his many naps. Walking out to catch up on my gossip I am bombarded by Linn with questions about my cowboy. Her words not mine.

“Well, Shane what does he look like?” Linn asks me

“He’s alright” I downplay it “has pretty blue eyes, I think that’s what sells him.”

“He put a picture on her phone,” Cristal interjects. What the hell!

“How did you know that?” I almost yell at her. Need to be quiet, the baby is sleeping, I scold myself.

“He sent you a text while you were in the shower this morning, I looked.” Sneaky little stinker.

“Let's see him, let's see him!” Linn whisper-shouts. Jeez, I feel like we are in a Scott tissue commercial.

“Okay, I will let you but…” I say getting my phone and unlocking it. Before I can say anything more Linn snatches it out of my hand. Fucking bitch.

“Oh my god Shane. He’s alright? Are you kidding me? This guy is so hot I would use his bathwater as mouthwash!” oh my gosh Linn to damn far.

“That is so gross Linnie.” Cristal and I both say at the same time. Then burst into a fit of giggles. That's when I hear a cry from the monitor. And he is awake.

“Well, I guess that is my cue to get going,” Linn says giving me a smile and hug before heading out the door.

“I see how it is. Wake my baby up and leave. You little bitch.” I call out to her back right before she shuts the door behind her. Looking over to Cris she just shrugs.

“I have a huge test tomorrow. Got to go and study.” She smiles and goes to her room. I go to peek in on Karter checking to see if he fell back asleep. That nap really wasn't long at all. It is quiet in the room when I enter letting me know he more than likely did fall back asleep or is just content staring at the ceiling. As I creep closer to his crib I see it is the former and I take a deep silent breath. Leaving the room I decide that since I have a little spare time I'm going to make cookies. I’ve had a craving for some freshly baked chocolate chip cookies.

I get all of my ingredients out and get to work on blending the butter and sugars together when my text tone on my phone chimes. Looking over at my phone I see it is Row.

Row
: what are you up to Dove?

Shana
: making cookies

Row
: she bakes too damn

Row
: what kind?

Shana
: Chocolate chip

Row
: girl after my own heart

I know he is just a natural flirt but every time he says things like that my heart sputters. Then it crashes when the reality of my life and his sets in. I'm a single mother and he is a bull rider. What I gathered from the stories he told me the other night he really doesn't have a place to call home, perfectly content living from town to town in hotel rooms and having a different woman every night. I added that last part myself, we have laughed about his activities but he doesn't go into detail. Just mostly jokes about it.

Shana
: I have heard the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach

Cheesy as hell but really I don't know what else to say.

Row
: heard the same thing

Row
: you like to cook?

Our conversation goes on for a bit longer, just mundane texts back and forth like what I like to cook and favorite food. He even asks about Karter too. His texts start to get more and more spaced out until he doesn't answer back at all. It is around dinner time then and I'm in the full routine then anyway so it really doesn't matter. I feed Karter then start putting him in his seat when Cris comes out of her room.

“Dang girl. Studying hard huh?” she smiles like she is guilty as hell. “You were reading weren’t you?” that girl and her books.

“Guilty. I got into a good one. Just finished it.”

“I don't know how you can do it. Sit there for that long and do nothing but read.”

“When you get lost in a book it is like a movie playing in your mind. Sometimes I will remember something from a book and think it was a movie or show I watched. It is weird, but so addicting.” She sounds so passionate about it. “It is just an escape from life. Most things are better in fiction, especially men.” She says the last part quietly. I don't think I'm supposed to hear it.

“Everything okay Cris?” I ask hoping to get maybe a fraction of an answer this time. Every time Linn or I talk to her she clams up. I know she is fighting some inner demons, I just wish she would let us help fight them with her.

“Huh? Oh yeah, I'm fine. What is for dinner?” she asks sidling up next to me at the counter, bumping my hip playfully with hers.

After tucking Karter into his crib, hopefully for the night. I cuddle up into my bed and right when I plug my phone into the charger it vibrates to life with a text from Row.

Row
: how is your night going?

I'm surprised he is texting me at this time of night, it’s around ten my time which means it's nine where he is. I would think he would have another woman wrapped around him already.

Shane
: good cookies tasted amazing

Row
: you are a tease Dove

Shane
: you having a slow night?

Row
: no why would you say that?

Shane
: because you are texting me shouldn't you be cuddled up with a girl for the night?

Row
: first off, I don't cuddle, second talking to you is far more important than some girl that may warm my bed for the night and third, she is in the bathroom I'm waiting for her to get back so we can leave lol

I can't believe the arrogant bastard just said that to me. I almost don't respond but decide that I need to have the last word.

Shane
: make sure you call out the right name, wouldn't want to forget who you are with ;-)

He says nothing else, I guess I win this round of banter. I lay my phone down on the table by my bed and look over at my sleeping baby in the crib next to me. I really could have had his room in Linn’s old room but it just didn't seem right to do it then, I guess I just miss her living here is all.

“It’s just me and you baby boy,” I whisper into the dark.

The next few days I don't get any more texts from Row, I would be lying to myself if I said I wasn't slightly bummed. Oh well I guess, he is just a guy, right? Dime a dozen. Today I'm taking Karter in to have a checkup then meeting up with dad to check out some houses. He emailed me a list and I think I have the ones narrowed down for my favorites.

“Did you look at the list?” my dad asks as I get into his rental car after strapping Karter in the back. I swear they keep the same one for him in the lot, its a blacked out town car that looks like he belongs in the secret service or something. Linn asked me once what was up with the mafia car out front and I just laughed, mafia in Missoula, that’s crazy.

“Yes and I like the blue ones.” Yes, the blue ones. There were five houses one brown two white and two blue.

“Good. Me too, biggest back yards. We are meeting the Realtor at the first one the list then going from there.” Sounds like a fun filled day. When we get to house number one there is a small two-door silver car out front with a real estate sticker on the door. A woman dressed in a black business type suit steps out. She has brown hair in a tight low bun I can’t see her face until she takes off her huge sunglasses. She is stunning. Dad is getting Karter out of the back when he must see that fact too.

“Hi my name is Leanna, you must be the Cloud family?” she eyes me skeptically, then my dad and Karter. Dad is a little out of sorts for a beat then seems to collect himself.

“Yes, I'm Bruce. This is my daughter and my grandson Karter.” I can see the relief on her face. I figured she thought my old man of a father was my husband. It actually happens more than you think. I guess he looks more like my sugar daddy than my father. Pushing sixty my dad is still one handsome man, still fit and has a full head of salt and pepper hair, he and my mother are almost fifteen years apart in age. Gives Mc Steamy a run for his money. I do believe this woman is now checking out my dad and by the look on his face, I'm thinking he is doing the same. They are both quiet for far too long so I break the, whatever is going on.

“Okay, let's go and see this house shall we?” Leanna seems to realize how unprofessional she is being and agrees. Leading the way to check out house number one.

Hours later we have decided to pick house number five, go figure it would be the last. I think that is why they do it that way. Save the best for last because you are so sick of looking at crap you get so excited when you see the better of them all and buy it. Same with men you go through crappy ones and as soon as you find one that pays attention just enough you pick that one. Then find out later you ended up with a crapper. Jaded. Who me? Never. My opinion of men is that they suck unless they happen to be my dad, then well, they are amazing.

“Did you get her number?” I ask him after we get in the car and start driving.

“Who’s? The Realtor? Of course, I have her number we will be buying that house I will have to contact her at some point.” I roll my eyes.

“You like her dad you should have gotten her number, you know to call for something other than the house you want to buy.” He chuckles uncomfortably.